The editors have assembled contributions from several specialists with contemporary skills in plant genetics and molecular biology and who are linked to the Global Musa Genetics Consortium, a forum providing for the free exchange of data relating to the genetics of the crop. For many, a polyploid, vegetatively propagated crop like banana is an interesting model for studying genomic evolution in relation to different stresses.

Historically, relatively few organisations have supported sustained research on genetic improvement of Musa. The breeders’ objectives were driven by the needs of the export trade in dessert fruit, which continues to be dependent on just one genotype (formerly Gros Michel and now Cavendish). Only in the last two decades the need to improve the cooking and other dessert varieties has been addressed.

Genetic improvement of bananas by conventional methods is difficult. Overcoming the problem of sterility in the economically useful cultivars and the fundamental requirement for seedless progeny has been the breeders’ major challenge. Conventional breeding is possible and promising clones have been developed, but the process is long and tedious, and insufficient progeny have been produced to readily locate and identify useful genes. Through the new technologies described in this book, information on the genes controlling desirable characteristics (disease and pest resistance, yield, flavour and cooking characteristics, plant stature, harvest interval, stress tolerance) is being accumulated. All the contributions give optimistic forecasts of the opportunities for banana improvement, but it is not clear how long we have to wait for the appearance of such new varieties.